ShipFit
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9-Stage Decision Flow

One idea in. One winning product out.

Most founders skip validation because they're scared of what they'll find. This is the process they should have run instead.

Nine framework-backed decisions, in a fixed order, that turn a vague idea into a ship-ready playbook. Buyer. Pricing. Scope. Launch. Decided in days, not months — before a single line of production code gets written.

Full playbook in under 45 minutes

This walkthrough is the companion to Validate your business idea — the full written 9-step playbook. Each stage below links to a deep-dive on that decision.

  1. 1

    Worth Building?

    → Market verdict 2–3 min

    Analyze your idea against real market data to determine if there's genuine demand worth pursuing.

    CB Insights finds 35–38% of failed startups cite "no market need" as the cause. Stage 1 is the gate that catches them.

    You leave with
    • TAM/SAM/SOM analysis
    • Competitor landscape
    • Market verdict
    Some of the frameworks used
    TAM/SAM/SOM AnalysisPorter's Five ForcesMarket Timing AnalysisMarket Context Assessment
    Deep-dive: Pre-launch market research
    Stage 1 output
    ShipFit Stage 1 output: Worth Building?

  2. Try Stage 1 free — get your market verdict

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  3. 2

    Who Pays?

    → Primary buyer 3–4 min

    Identify your ideal customer profile and understand who actually has budget authority.

    LTV/CAC ≥ 3 is the SaaS scaling threshold (David Skok). The buyer persona output ties to economics, not demographics.

    You leave with
    • Buyer personas with economics
    • Willingness-to-pay analysis
    • LTV/CAC estimates
    Some of the frameworks used
    Proto-Personas FrameworkEthnographic Empathy MapsJobs-to-be-Done (JTBD)Unit Economics (LTV/CAC)Emotional Friction StatesAEIOU Framework
    Deep-dive: Idea validation & the buyer
    Stage 2 output
    ShipFit Stage 2 output: Who Pays?
  4. 3

    What Hurts?

    → Core problems 4–5 min

    Uncover the real pain points your customers face. Not what they say, but what they actually experience.

    Mom Test signal emerges around 10–15 interviews — when 3+ unrelated buyers describe the same pain in the same words.

    You leave with
    • Ranked pain points
    • Severity scoring (frequency × intensity)
    • MVP problem selection
    Some of the frameworks used
    Problem Scoring FormulaEmotional Friction States HierarchyAEIOU FrameworkDo-Say Gap AnalysisThe Mom Test
    Stage 3 output
    ShipFit Stage 3 output: What Hurts?
  5. 4

    How to Win?

    → Solution approach 5–6 min

    Define your unique value proposition and competitive moat that makes you the obvious choice.

    Hamilton Helmer catalogued 7 sources of durable advantage. Most pre-PMF startups have zero; the question is which one you could build.

    You leave with
    • 3 solution approaches
    • Problem-solution fit scores
    • Risk assessment
    Some of the frameworks used
    Hamilton Helmer's 7 PowersPorter's Generic StrategiesBlue Ocean Strategy (ERRC)Playing to Win (Martin & Lafley)Jobs-to-be-Done (Christensen)Disruptive Innovation TheoryCrossing the Chasm (Moore)Value Proposition Canvas (Osterwalder)Platform vs Pipeline (Van Alstyne)Aggregation Theory (Ben Thompson)Product-Led Growth (PLG)Sales-Led Growth (SLG)Community-Led GrowthLand and ExpandValue-Based PricingUsage-Based PricingFreemium Strategy
    Deep-dive: Competitive analysis
    Stage 4 output
    ShipFit Stage 4 output: How to Win?
  6. 5

    What's V1?

    → MVP scope 5–7 min

    Scope the minimum viable product that proves your hypothesis without over-building.

    MoSCoW caps the Must list at "cannot ship without". Three MVP packages emerge — Lean / Balanced / Full — so the scope/effort tradeoff is explicit before you commit.

    You leave with
    • Feature matrix (effort × impact)
    • MVP packages (Lean / Balanced / Full)
    • Build vs buy decisions
    Some of the frameworks used
    User Story & JTBD MappingSCAMPER MethodologyBiomimicryCross-Industry AnalysisFeasibility-Impact MatrixMVP Package Tiers (Lean / Balanced / Full)Customer Journey MappingAI Persona Testing
    Deep-dive: Scoping your MVP
    Stage 5 output
    ShipFit Stage 5 output: What's V1?

  7. See what your playbook looks like

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  8. 6

    How to Charge?

    → Pricing model 4–5 min

    Determine optimal pricing strategy based on value delivered and willingness to pay.

    Van Westendorp PSM stabilizes around 30+ respondents in your ICP. Under that, curves lie; you produce a price that looks defensible but isn't.

    You leave with
    • Pricing tiers with feature gating
    • Competitive positioning
    • Unit economics validation
    Some of the frameworks used
    Van Westendorp PSM (feature-weighted)Pricing Models by Product TypePain Intensity Premium ModifierConfidence Scoring FrameworkPersona-Price Fit Validation
    Deep-dive: Pricing validation
    Stage 6 output
    ShipFit Stage 6 output: How to Charge?
  9. 7

    Will They Pay?

    → Demand proof 4–6 min

    Pressure-test demand with smoke tests and behavioral signals before you build.

    Fake Door signal tiers: a 1% Gold-tier conversion (real preorder / LOI / deposit) beats a 30% Worthless-tier conversion (email signup, upvotes).

    You leave with
    • Smoke test plan
    • Behavioral validation criteria
    • Pre-sales playbook
    Some of the frameworks used
    Fake Door TestingLanding Page Conversion FrameworkTraffic Warmth Levels (Cold / Mixed / Warm)Apology Modal PatternUTM Tracking Framework
    Stage 7 output
    ShipFit Stage 7 output: Will They Pay?
  10. 8

    How to Launch?

    → GTM plan 6–8 min

    Plan your go-to-market strategy with specific channels, messaging, and launch sequence.

    Test 2 channels deeply before adding a third. Founders who launch into 5+ channels at once spread budget too thin to learn from any single one.

    You leave with
    • Prioritized launch channels
    • Week 1 checklist
    • Channel-specific messaging
    Some of the frameworks used
    GTM Strategy FrameworkDeep Persona ResearchBrand Strategy Framework (Positioning, Taglines, Voice)Channel Strategy (Organic, Paid, Partnership, Community)Product-Fit AnalysisMessage Bank CreationTimeline & Metrics Planning
    Deep-dive: Building a launch plan
    Stage 8 output
    ShipFit Stage 8 output: How to Launch?
  11. 9

    What to Export?

    → AI tool handoff 2–3 min

    Generate optimized prompts and specs for Cursor, Claude Code, Windsurf, and other AI dev tools to accelerate development.

    Exports to 7 AI dev environments: Cursor (.cursorrules), Claude Code (CLAUDE.md), Windsurf (.windsurfrules), Replit, Lovable, v0, Gemini — plus a Universal Prompt for any chat model.

    You leave with
    • AI-ready prompts (Cursor, Claude Code, Windsurf, Replit, Lovable, v0, Gemini)
    • Technical spec
    • Launch assets
    Some of the frameworks used
    Three-Layer Architecture (Governance, Semantic, Operational)Context Engineering PrinciplesUniversal Prompt Variants (Minimal, Standard, Comprehensive)Tool-Specific Configurations (Cursor, Claude Code, Windsurf, Replit, Lovable, v0, Gemini)
    Deep-dive: Validating with AI
    Stage 9 output
    ShipFit Stage 9 output: What to Export?

Why not just use ChatGPT?

You can ask ChatGPT about your idea and it'll tell you it's great. It always does. ShipFit's kill rate is 24%. ChatGPT's is 0%. Not because ShipFit is negative. Because it uses real market data, real competitor analysis, and proven frameworks that know which decisions actually matter.

ChatGPT gives you a conversation

Freeform chat. You decide what to ask. No structure. No sequence. No memory between sessions.

ShipFit gives you a playbook

Fixed 9-stage process. Each decision builds on the last. Cross-stage intelligence. Structured deliverables you build from.

Real data, not AI slop

Live competitor URLs. Sourced pricing. Real complaints from G2, Trustpilot, and app stores. Not training data from last year.

Read the full comparison

Frequently asked

How long does the full ShipFit flow take?
Most founders complete all 9 stages in 35–60 minutes of focused work. You can also pause at any stage. Your project state is saved. And return when you have new information.
Do I have to do all 9 questions, or can I skip ahead?
The questions are sequenced because each one builds on the previous answers (e.g., pricing depends on knowing your buyer). You can revisit and revise earlier answers at any time, but the recommended path is sequential.
What do I actually walk away with?
A ship-ready playbook: market verdict, buyer persona, ranked pain points, solution approach, MVP scope, pricing model, demand-validation plan, GTM strategy, and exportable specs for Cursor, Claude Code, Windsurf, and other AI dev tools.
How is this different from just using ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is conversational and agreeable by default. ShipFit is opinionated and framework-backed. It forces decisions in a fixed sequence using proven methodologies (Mom Test, Van Westendorp, Jobs-to-be-Done, 7 Powers) and produces structured, exportable artifacts.
What frameworks does ShipFit use?
Over 50, including The Mom Test, Van Westendorp Price Sensitivity Meter, Jobs-to-be-Done, Hamilton Helmer's 7 Powers, Blue Ocean Strategy, Lean Startup, MoSCoW prioritization, TAM/SAM/SOM, Unit Economics, and Porter's Five Forces.

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9 decisions between your idea and a product worth building.

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Quick glossary — acronyms used on this page